Letter to the Editor: Sex offender deserved harsher sentence

Posted: Saturday, May 11th, 2013

I have a few things to say about the child porn article, published May 9, 2013. I’d like to know what was going through the Judge’s and District Attorney’s minds when they gave him his sentencing. He was indicted over a year ago and is just now being sentenced. He was free on bond for one of the hearings, but why? Who would let a man like him off so easy? He is only serving 9 years in prison for obtaining media of child porn, and also has to be supervised for a lifetime. What is “supervision” going to do? Is a state official going to live with him in his house and watch every single step he takes? I highly doubt that that will happen.

I feel that this man has been given a break. He is receiving similar sentencing as what a drug dealer would. Don’t get me wrong, I do believe that drugs are harmful to the body as well as the community, but what about those kids? If this man watched those videos and had an infatuation with a little girl, who’s to say he won’t act on his feelings and rape a child when he is free? People who watch child porn are just as monstrous as those who make the children do it. Those kids were deprived of a normal childhood all because some selfish and disgusting person wanted to make money or get a sick thrill.

What if they were your children? What would you want that man’s future to be like? I know if they were my kids I’d want him on death row. Our children are our society’s future and protecting them from people like this should be a main priority. If a person convicted of first-degree assault gets 16 to 32 years, shouldn’t a pedophile get the same if not more? I think so. My sympathy is with the children who are or have been exploited. I pray that one day soon they will be helped and free from any harm.

My name is Crystal and this is my opinion. Thank you for taking the time to read this, even if you do not agree or do not like what I have written. I know this letter will not change his sentence; my hope is that other people will write letters similar to this, so we can make a difference in exploited children’s lives.